Electrical conduit



Nov. 4, 1924. I 1,514,042

W. H. FRIEDRICH ELECTRICAL GONDUIT Filed Dec. 20 19?3 @027. Y 1 F7 F1 Fl 11 WW 3 n i W g V 4 Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

umten ".wILLIAM eHw.FRIEDRICH; OF DYER, INDIANA.

. ELECTRICAL CONDUIT.

Application filed hecember20; 1923. Serial 110/681,897.

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

*Be it known-that IQ'WILLIAM H. 'FRCEED RICH, a citizen o t-the United Statesyresiding at Dyer, in the county of Lake anchState-ot' i Indiana, have invented new and useful'Im provem'ents in'Electric-al Gonduits, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention'rclates 'to-conduits-espc' cially adapted for enclosing'sign-a-l' and other wires used along railway-tracks.

'B riefly stated, an important object-of fire.

A further and equallyimpor-tant objectof the invention is to provide a conduit of the character ispecified wherein the. hood of the same may be quickly detachedwithout damage thereto to afford access to the wires should it be desired-to correctirregularities in the system or install new wires.

Also, an aim of the invention is to pro vide novel means whereby the sections composing the conduit are securely connected by the same fastening means which secures the conduit to the usual supporting posts.

A further object is to provide a conduit of the character specified which is of highly simplified construction, durable in use, and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved conduit in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 5 designate a plurality of spaced posts upon which the improved conduit is mounted.

The bod of the conduit consists of a plurality 0 lengths of channel shaped members 6 arranged in overlapping relation as illustrated in Figure 5 and those portions of the lengths of channel shaped members which are overlapped are=-=secured to the 'postsbytastening devices '7. More "specifically,'.the fastening devices 7 which 7 are preferably nailsare extended through the base portions of the channel shaped sect-ions andnot only connect the sections but'also secure the condult to the-spaced posts.

The-sidewalls of the channel shaped sections have their uppe1'-eclges providedwith 3 depending side flanges 10 which terminate a this invention is to provide" a conduit bf the characterspecified -'which is" formed entirely fronrmetaltoresist the-weather and substantial distance belowthe base portions of the severalsections as illustrated in I Figure 3. The depending *side flanges 10- et- :tect-i-velystrengthen the upstanding sides-of the channel shaped members and flatly ;contact with opposite sides of theposts 5. Fig- *ure' 5 illustratestha-t the upstanding side walls of the channel shapedmembers and the "depending-side fianges'ofthe same co- 0perate 1 in the formation of 1 sockets or grooves anthe -endsof' theseveral channel shaped sections to receive the ends of the adjacent sections whereby to establish a substantially water tight connection between the several aligned sections.

The wires arranged within the conduit are protected by a transversely curved metallic hood 20, the side walls of which flatly contact with the side walls of the depending side flanges 10 and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the lower edge portions of the side flanges and the hood have aligned openings 21 for the reception of fastening wires 22 by means of which the hood may be detachably though securely held in place. The ends of the fastening wires are bent down and then up as illustrated in Figure 4 so that the same are concealed from view and are more or less protected.

In use, the metallic hood 20 forms a reliable means for protecting the wires in the channel shaped conduit from the weather, dust, cinders and sparks. The improved conduit is especially valuable in protecting the wires from damage by fire as the conduit is strictly fire proof and sparks and cinders from locomotives cannot burn the insulation from the wires and possibly cause a short circuit.

Also, as the conduit is entirely of metal the same will not rot or deteriorate as the wood conduits now in use do.

hen it is desired to gain access to the wires it is merely necessary to remove certain of the 't'astening wires 22 and the hood or any section of the same may be instantly detached. Ihe desired addition or repair may be made and the hood quickly replaced, after which the wires 22 are again employed. Attention is directed to the fact that the wires 22 not only prevent the accidental removal of the hood, but also support the hood in its proper position on the conduit and prevent the hood from settling and possibly spreadlng.

Lateral branches 30 maybe connected to the main conduit by means of couplings 31 and the branch or branches 30 may extend beneath the rails 33 and the cross ties 34.

l. A conduit of the character specified comprising a plurality of channel shaped sections having upstanding side walls provided with depending reinforcing flanges extending for the full length thereof and terminating below the lower edges of the side walls, the side flanges being spaced from the side walls and cooperating with the same to define sockets for the reception of the end portions of adjacent sections.

2. A conduit of the character specified comprising a plurality of channel shaped sections having upstanding side walls provided with depending reinforcing flanges extending for the full length thereof and terminating below the lower edges of the side walls, the side flanges being spaced from the side walls and cooperating with the same to define sockets for the reception of the end portions of adjacent sections, and a transversely curved hood extending over said side flanges and having their lower edges arranged adjacent the lower edges of said side flanges.

3. A conduit of the character specified comprising a plurality of channel'shaped sections having upstanding side walls provided with depending reinforcing flanges extending for the full length thereof and terminating a substantial distance below the lower edges of the side walls, the side flanges being spaced from the side walls and cooperating with the same to define sockets for the reception of the end portions of adjacent sections, a transversely curved hoodv extending over said side flanges and having its lower portions arranged adjacent the lower edge portions of said sideflanges, the lower portions of said hood and the lower portions of said side flanges being provided with registering openings, and fastening devices extending entirely across the conduit and through said registering openings to hold the hood in place and limit spreading of the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WVILLIAM I-I. FRIEDRICH. 

